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  Chapter N: Lingering Passion

  “Cecilia...”

  “Ahh... Ichika...”

  A secret bedchamber in Cecilia’s mansion. Concealed by the luxurious drapery of a canopy bed, two shadows intertwined.

  “You’re so beautiful...” Ichika’s voice was husky with passion, in a way that drove Cecilia mad.

  “Why, Ichika... You’re so forward tonight...”

  Ichika unbuttoned his tuxedo jacket and pressed toward Cecilia. Cecilia, already in sheer lingerie, found her hips straining toward him.

  “I’ll never let you go again... My fair lady...”

  “I-Ichika— Ahh!” Kisses fell like rain on her neck, as Ichika’s hand drifted lower.

  “It’s time, Cecilia...”

  “No, wait... I don’t know if I’m ready...” Warning bells rang in Cecilia’s mind, but her instincts took over, and all she could do was sigh.

  “These beautiful breasts... These curvy hips... Mine, and mine alone.” As he continued kissing her, his right hand gently caressed her body. Electric jolts of pleasure ran across her with each brush of his fingertips.

  “Ahh, wait...”

  Slipping his own pants off, Ichika brought his face up to Cecilia’s and looked her in the eye. The warmth of his breath made her skin almost burn in anticipation.

  “I can’t wait any longer, Cecilia...”

  “Mm! Ahh, Ichika!”

  “Cecilia!” Ichika pressed down onto her.

  And as he did, Cecilia felt her head bang into something. Bewildered, she opened her eyes to see the world upside down. It was dark, quiet, and there was no sign of Ichika.

  “Was... Was that a dream?” Confused, she reflexively flipped on the lights.

  “Listen, Cecilia. I don’t care about the bed. At least, I’ve given up on it. But what the hell gave you the idea that you could wake me up at night too?”

  IS Academy first-year dorms. Cecilia’s room. And an extremely irked roommate, one Kisaragi Kisara. With Cecilia’s bed taking up most of the floor space, she’d already had to fall back on her training from the Mountaineering club and take up sleeping in a sleeping bag. Much to her displeasure.

  “Er, Kisara?”

  “Don’t ‘Er, Kisara’ me!” A flying pillow caught Cecilia in the face. “Knock it off with the weird dreams, and get some rest. Jeez.”

  “Ah, yeah... Sorry about that.”

  Kisara tapped the button on her remote control for the lights and snuggled down in her sleeping bag.

  That must have been a dream... But it was so vivid... As Cecilia remembered the feel of his lips trailing down her neck, Her face grew red. I wish I could have seen just a little bit more... Wishing a dream like that had gone on was just another sign of how fond Cecilia had grown of Ichika.

  “Oh, and Cecilia?”

  “What is it?”

  “No more wet dreams, okay? I could do without the moaning while I’m trying to sleep.”

  Gulp. Cecilia’s face turned bright red. And so, the night passed—

  Chapter I: The Princess That Shouted ‘Me, Me, Me!’

  “It always sneaks up on me how close New Year’s is to Christmas.” Winter vacation had begun, and with it, the new year was about to arrive. “Gonna be nice to just have a bowl of soba and relax without the crowd around.”

  Ichika was relieved to be back home after everything he’d gone through recently. But just when he picked up a tangerine, Chifuyu stepped back into the room after a long bath.

  “So much happened this year. Hey, Chifuyu, you feel like some soba?”

  “Sounds good.”

  “I’ll get it going, then.”

  As he stood up to go to the kitchen, though, Chifuyu added something unexpected, “But make extra, okay?”

  “Huh? Why?”

  “Hold on a sec.”

  She turned and stepped out into the garden, where a few lazy snowflakes were melting as they landed. Still, though, it was December. More than cold enough for people.

  “Come on out, Laura.” For once, Chifuyu was calling her by her given name. “I know you’re hiding. Come out.”

  Laura’s instinct was to stay down and hope it was just a trick, but realizing her punishment would only be worse if she didn’t comply, she rose, her white-and-grey winter camo more visible now against the fence.

  “How long have you been there?” Ichika sighed. Her nose was beginning to turn red from the cold, but she was still defiant.

  “Since before nightfall.”

  “What is wrong with you?” He wrapped an arm around her to warm her up, and led her inside. “You know, you could always just knock on the door like a normal person.”

  “My mission was to protect you and her from the shado— Achoo!” Laura couldn’t even finish her sentence without sneezing.

  “Sit down at the kotatsu,” said Ichika, gesturing forward. “I’ll get you something warm to drink.”

  “So this is a kotatsu. An Eden for cats! Symbol of the winter season!” That kind of not-quite-right, not-quite-wrong idea could only have come from Klarissa, who seemingly had an endless stock of slight misconceptions about Japan.

  “Here’s some warm milk.”

  “Mm. Thanks.” Everyone knew Laura didn’t drink coffee. Even if she was envious of how mature and hard-boiled Chifuyu and Klarissa looked ordering it black. Even if she tried doing so herself at the dining hall, and kept leaving it untouched on her tray. “Phew! That’s hot!”

  Laura, never really a fan of hot drinks, sucked her tongue back into her mouth, waiting a few moments before timidly lapping it up like a cat. Leader of the elite Schwarzer Hasen at home in Germany or no, in Japan she was thoroughly domesticated.

  “Three bowls of soba coming right up, then. Laura, why don’t you chat with Chifuyu while you wait?”

  “Oh, sure.” Even with the prompt, Laura was nervous. Her previous awestruck respect was bad enough, but tinges of an imagined future conversation with her sister-in-law made it even worse. But who could really blame her?

  “Laura,” Chifuyu called out, breaking Laura from her daydreaming.

  “Yes, Lehrerin!”

  “We’re not on base or at school. You can call me by name.”

  “Understood, Chiffy!”

  “All right, that’s taking it a bit too far.” A quick karate chop reinforced the point. “Anyway. Want a tangerine?”

  “Y-Yes, Chifuyu.” Laura cradled the fruit in her hand as if it were priceless. “A tangerine... From mein Lehrerin... I can’t eat this, I need to save it forever...”

  Her mumble to herself was apparently loud enough for Chifuyu to overhear.

  “No. Eat it... What has gotten into you, anyway?”

  “Err. What do you mean?”

  “It’s obvious. You’ve been acting funny lately.”

  “Acting funny?! Who, me?”

  “Yeah. Especially now.” Chifuyu shrugged. Somehow, in the warmth of the kotatsu, she seemed almost impossibly relaxed compared to her normal self. “Anyway, though. This year sure was a mess, wasn’t it? Hey, Ichika. Get me some sake.”

  “Of course,” he replied.

  “Make sure it’s warm this time, okay?”

  “I know, I know. What do you want with it? Pickles?”

  “Sure. That’d be great as an appetizer.”

  Laura was a little bit jealous of how casually domestic their relationship was. But even a little bit was enough for Chifuyu to pick up on it.

  “What did you always used to say?”

  “I... I’d rather not think back to that...” Laura muttered.

  “C’mon. I know it’s awkward, but it’s still part of who you are.” She cringed as Chifuyu laughed it up.

  “Here you go, Chifuyu,” said Ichika, coming back into the room. “Sake and pickles. Try not to drink too much, okay?”

  “Fine, fine.” Chifuyu brushed off his concern as she took the plate. What better to go with warmed sake than Ichika’s homemade napa kraut and a conversation with her student Laura? “Mmm, this stuff’s great.”

  She seemed in high spirits as she took a swig of the sake. None of the stress which had weighed on her during the Excalibur incident was visible now.

  “So, Laura. How are things going with Ichika? Getting anywhere?”

  “Well...” Laura clammed up, making the answer obvious.

  “You’ve got to step it up, Laura. A woman needs to know when to go on the attack. Don’t worry about winning the battles. Win the war.”

  “I... I see.”

  Chifuyu continued to loosen up as the line of liquid visible through the sake bottle sunk lower and lower and the plate of kraut disappeared into her mouth.

  “The soba’s almost done, Chifuyu. Don’t fill yourself up before that.”

  “I’ll be fine. Just keep the sake coming.” Ichika rolled his eyes as he brought out another two decanters. It didn’t take long for a satisfied Chifuyu to polish them off.

  “Y’know, Laura. When you turn twenty we really need to go out drinking sometime.”

  “R-Really? Are you sure, Chifuyu?”

  “Ahahahaha! Think of it as something to look forward to. I know I am.”

  Thinking about the future only put Laura on edge. Naturally, perhaps, for someone who normally focused on the past. The unknown unsettled her. But Chifuyu was kind enough to dispel those fears with her own earnest enthusiasm. It was enough to make even her imagine the da

ys to come.

  “All right, soba’s done.” Ichika came to the kotatsu, carrying a tray with three bowls and a delicious-looking plate of fried seafood. “I made fried squid and shrimp too. Laura, you eat squid, right?”

  “Hmm? Oh, yeah, I’m fine with it.” Her wavering eyes were more honest than her words. It didn’t seem like Europeans were very used to eating squid. Ichika remembered her remarking that she’d first eaten it in Japan.

  “It’s chopped up nice and fine, so it shouldn’t be too chewy. Get it while it’s hot!”

  “...Understood.” Laura gingerly took the bowl of soba. But as her eyes caught sight of the rich golden broth, her mouth began to water. “Wow! This looks great!”

  Laura’s own fantasies of her future life in Japan as Mrs. Orimura had taken her into a wholehearted interest in the country’s everyday life, and especially its street food; she’d had plenty of soba by now, and knew a good bowl when she saw one. Knowing the broth was Ichika’s own homemade recipe only made it even more appealing.

  “C’mon, Ichika. You sit down too.” Less a suggestion from Chifuyu, more an order. After bringing the empty sake decanters away from the table, Ichika settled down at the kotatsu himself. “Let’s eat, then.”

  “Yes, let’s eat.” Chifuyu, Laura, and Ichika each fell silent for a moment. Chifuyu had drilled into them the importance of being grateful for their meals.

  “Mmmm! This is delicious!” Laura spoke with her mouth still full.

  “She’s right. Ichika, you’ve gotten a lot better at cooking.”

  As the meal stretched on, they heard the chimes of distant bells.

  “That’s it, Chifuyu.”

  “Mm.”

  “Happy new year!”

  Chifuyu and Ichika bowed their heads, Laura following along after a moment. And thus, a new year dawned at IS Academy.

  ◇

  “Wait, what?! You stayed over at Ichika’s?!” Charl, who had been waiting at Shinonono Shrine in a kimono with her hair done up, sounded shocked.

  “Yes. It was truly an evening to remember.”

  “No fair, Laura! I don’t think you should try to get out ahead of us like that.”

  Charlotte puffed her cheeks out in frustration, then began to plan how she’d stun Ichika when he arrived as she waited. I need to be a little more proactive myself. Yeah, that’s it. And spending a Japanese holiday with Ichika, just her and Laura, was a good chance to be last but not least. Especially with all the other competition out of the way. No one could deny that she looked absolutely adorable. Cecilia had stayed behind in England to take care of some business, Ling had gone home to China. And Tatenashi and Kanzashi were celebrating at their own place.

  “Oh, there you are.” As she clenched her hands in tension, Ichika arrived. Unlike her and Laura, he was in his usual non-school-day clothes. Charl was more than a little relieved, though, to see he was wearing the scarf she’d given him.

  “Wow, you look great in a kimono! Did Houki help you put it on?”

  “Yeah. She’s amazing, it took no time at all.”

  “And what about me? It looks perfect on me, doesn’t it?” Laura was as bold in showing off her kimono as Charlotte was shy. Both of them, though, were absolutely gorgeous, enough to catch second and third glances from passersby.

  “Wow, is that Charlotte from IS Academy?”

  “That must be Laura with her, then. Man, they look even better than the photos.”

  Ichika, meanwhile, ignored the crowds as he lined them up in his camera’s viewfinder. “Guess I should get our first pictures of the year.”

  “I hope they come out good.”

  “It’s nice to be in the habit of having something to remember days like this by.”

  The first shot was the girls together, then each of them alone. Next, they passed around the camera so each could get a shot with Ichika.

  I’m so glad I bothered to come to this. I guess the early bird really does get the worm. Charlotte was already satisfied with how the day had gone, but Laura wanted more.

  “We should probably go make our wishes now. Klarissa said I should wish for safe childbirth.”

  “Why does she always say that kind of thing...” Ichika was nonplussed, and Charlotte was blushing.

  “...Safe childbirth?”

  “Yes. Good health is important.”

  “Well, yeah, but... Seriously, c’mon, Laura.” Charlotte, red-faced, punched Laura in the back, much to her confusion.

  ◇

  Shinonono Shrine’s clergy and lay ministers milled around the grounds, exchanging their holiday greetings. As they did, Ichika spotted Houki in the crowd and waved to her, trying to get her attention.

  “Ah...” She shyly waved back, trying not to make eye contact. Just seeing his face made her feel embarrassed. He’ll probably be watching when I perform the kagura dance ritual...

  The kagura, or the offering dance, was thought to bring luck in the coming year. Normally, Ichika watching as she performed such an important ritual would make her happy, Calm down, Houki... You’ll be fine, you can do this. He’d said she was beautiful after last summer’s performance. And she had even more practice under her belt now. She was sure to impress him even more.

  With her heart rising, she stepped forward and began to dance. Her steps were precise, graceful, yet packed with passion. It was perfect.

  As she finished, Ichika rushed over to her. “You were great, Houki! Wasn’t she, Charl?”

  “Yeah! That was beautiful!”

  “T-Thanks.”

  Praise or no, her heart ached even more. Ichika and Charlotte had been holding hands. It was probably just to make sure they didn’t get split up in the crowd, but still. It’s nice that he liked it... But... Emptiness welling up in her chest, she retreated to the vestry, her eyes gleaming red.

  ◇

  “Hey, why don’t we pull a fortune?” Ichika asked the two.

  “Fortunes, huh. Letting the gods of Japan judge my fate...”

  “Laura, you should really be a bit less credulous about what Klarissa tells you.”

  As they chatted, Houki appeared, dressed in a kimono at her aunt’s insistence.

  “Oh, Houki! Great, I didn’t know if you’d be wearing one too!” A smile spread across Ichika’s face, and Houki’s heart fluttered in response.

  “I guess. I didn’t really care either way, but my aunt thought it was important.”

  “Really, it was the right idea. Can I get your picture?”

  “Hmm? Oh, sure.” She was a little surprised at how enthusiastic he was.

  “All right, just Houki for the first one.”

  Snap went the shutter. Twice more, too, once for all three girls together and once for Houki and Ichika.

  “.........”

  “What’s wrong, Houki? If you don’t get closer to him I can’t fit you both in the frame.”

  “Mm...” Houki’s embarrassment came to the forefront during their picture together. Whatever her other duties today were, she was still a girl. Ichika, instead, took the lead, and as he wrapped an arm around her Charl pressed the shutter release.

  “There we go... Houki?”

  “Er, ah... Oh, nothing...” She hid her face, not wanting anyone to see her blush, as Ichika took her hand and led her to where fortunes were being told.

  “All right, no putting yours back and going for something better. Hear me, Laura?”

  “W-Where on Earth did you get that idea from?”

  “By you suddenly not being able to look me in the eye.” The young part-time miko watched her like a hawk. Ichika was less flanked by beautiful women, more completely encircled by them. And being the elite of IS Academy, they were as famous in their own right as they were eye-catching.

  “Look at the harem Orimura Ichika’s got.”

  “Ssh! They’ll hear you.”

  “I can’t believe he’s just leading them all on like that.”

  “What a pig.”

  Ichika sighed, “You know I can hear you, right?”

  Anyway, though, it was time for fortunes. Ichika reached straight for his. Chifuyu had taught him to be decisive.

  “Ooh, ‘Great Luck’! What about you, Charl?”

  “‘Good Luck’. Sounds pretty dull. Laura?” she replied.

  “‘Some Luck’. Is that better or worse than just ‘A Little Luck’?”

  Ichika and Charlotte shrugged.

  “Guess I should pull another one, then.”

  “C’mon, Laura! You’re not supposed to do that!” Charlotte scrambled to keep her from pulling not just one more, but a whole bundle.

 

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